Speaking about characters like Mercedes, Quinn and Mike, who aren't staying in Ohio or going to New York, he added, "I want them to come back, I think it'll be a different way. We haven't figured it out but I know what the stories are, I just don't know how many episodes. We want to keep all our options open. I think I have to talk to the actors and say, 'What do you want to do?'"

The biggest question mark perhaps is what will happen with Finn going into the Army, which Ryan teased is a "big secret."